Madius (sixth left) and Mohd Hatta (seventh left) with representatives of the cooperatives which received the assistance yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has urged the people to embrace the principle of cooperative which should focus not only on profit but the well-being of cooperative members as well.
He said school cooperative is one of the entrepreneurial branches and is a platform that is capable of fostering an entrepreneurial culture among the community.
“The concept of cooperation in cooperative has been a pivot of the unification of multiracial people across religious boundaries, races and ideological differences.
“The cooperative movement will be strengthened among the B40 and the rural community, including encouraging the establishment of community-based cooperatives has already been emphasized in the National Entrepreneurship Policy (DKN) 2030,” he said in a speech at the launch of One District One Industry (SDSI) at a shopping mall here yesterday.
The Chief Minister’s speech was delivered by the Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau.
“In 2018, the co-operative movement contributed RM40.31 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and DKN 2030 had set a target of contributing RM60 billion in revenue generated by 2030.
“In Sabah, proceeds are expected to continue to grow based on the trend of the number of cooperatives registered with the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (MCSC) increasing from 1,150 cooperatives in 2014 to 1,524 cooperatives in 2018 with a membership of 302,513.
Meanwhile, the cooperative share capital totaled RM189 million with assets worth RM890 million, he said, adding that the Cooperative Movement could dominate and strengthen value chain system to ensure business running conducively.
Shafie also called on Sabahans to act on cooperative role, becoming more aggressive and competitive in order to meet the global challenges which needed resilience, and also able to implement transformation, thus enhancing the image, visibility and confidence of the society towards cooperatives.
At the event, MCSC presented development assistance worth RM320,000 to six cooperatives in Sabah.
MCSC executive chairman, Datuk Nordin Salleh, said that RM270,000 of the said assistance was given to four experienced cooperatives for renovation and upgrading the cooperative shop.
The cooperatives are Koperasi Keluarga Bagudat Said Semporna Berhad (RM100,000), Koperasi Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pulau Gaya (RM80,000), Koperasi Wanita Dinazang Inovatif Kudat Berhad (RM60,000) and Koperasi Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pitas Berhad (RM30,000).
For the rest of the cooperatives, Koperasi Kampung Luanti Baru Keningau Berhad and Koperasi Sekolah Menengah St. Francis Convent Kota Kinabalu Berhad, which just started their business, they received RM30,000 and RM20,000, respectively, to finance some of the costs of building a new cooperative shop as well as purchasing shop equipment, he explained.
Meanwhile, the SDSI event, which kick-started on Friday will last until today (October 20), was organized by the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development (MED) and the Sabah State Government under the theme “Cooperative Drives National Entrepreneurship”.
It was the first SDSI held in East Malaysia focusing on the involvement of more than 70 entrepreneurs as well as cooperatives in Sabah and Sarawak, showcasing their products and services in various sectors such as services, food and beverage, handicraft, homestay and health products.
Also present were Datuk Wira Dr. Mohd Hatta Md. Ramli, Deputy Minister for Entrepreneur Development and senior officials of the ministry, State and agencies.